Indian Government Announces PhD Fellowship Programme for ASEAN Students

The Indian Government has recently announced an ambitious new initiative for ASEAN nationals to study at the country’s Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), with generous five-year PhD fellowships available to cover study and living costs.

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is made up of the following countries:

Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

The fellowships represent an exciting opportunity to study a PhD at one of the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology. These universities are among the most prestigious in India, with world-class reputations in Engineering and Technology subjects. Successful fellowship candidates will receive a:

Monthly stipend of INR 31,000 (USD $435) for the first two years of their PhD, then a monthly stipend of INR 35,000 (USD $490) for the remaining three years
Research grant of up to INR 170,000 (USD $2,390) for travel, books and other costs
Monthly rent allowance equivalent to 24% of the stipend to cover accommodation costs

You can apply online for a PhD fellowship via the online portal run by the Government of India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development, who administer the funding. You’ll need to specify the IIT and programme you’re applying to, and each IIT will conduct its own admissions process. This may consist of an online interview, as well as other screening methods.

The deadline for applications is 31 October 2019, with the first batch of scholars beginning their fellowships in January 2020. The programme will award 1,000 fellowships over the course of three cohorts.

For more information, take a look at the Indian Government’s page on ASEAN fellowships or read our guide to PhD study in India.